Carver 356 battery question

[buster53]

Ok, I've got 3 batteries in my bilge sitting between the engines. The most forward battery, closest to the genset is the starting battery for the genset.
Can I assume the middle battery is battery #1 and the battery furthest aft is battery #2.
Which battery has the bilge pumps connected to it?
Any help will be appreciated. Thanks

[bud37]

Now I don't have a 356 but, on mine the cables have id on them from Carver and in the manual there is a schematic that has how the switch is wired as to what is on #1 and on #2 and what is hard wired to which batteries when the switch is in the off position.This I guess is only valid if yours is somewhat the same and previous owners have not messed with the factory setup......what year is your boat??........

[mjk1040]

Both batteries supply the bilge pumps. The bilge pumps are hard wired to the incoming hot side of the battery selector switch and can only be turn off by tripping the bilge breaker under the step.

[buster53]

When I bought the boat, the PO did not supply me with any manuals.

Good to know about both batteries running the bilge pump. Never knew that. Yes, I see the bilge breakers under the step, but for the life of me, I can't figure out how to turn them off. They seem to be locked into position.

[Midnightsun]

Source of the post When I bought the boat, the PO did not supply me with any manuals.

Good to know about both batteries running the bilge pump. Never knew that. Yes, I see the bilge breakers under the step, but for the life of me, I can't figure out how to turn them off. They seem to be locked into position.

If they are like mine then you need a small flat screwdriver or flat thin object that you squeeze underneath the off side and they will click off. They are made this way so you do not accidentally turn them off jus like the co detectors and a few other thing which i cannot remember.

[buster53]

Ok, both my house batteries are shot. Both AGM, group 31. When I pulled them from the boat, both were very warm to the touch, In the 115 degree range. One of my dock buddies told me that often happens to AGM's when they are going bad. Is that true or could I have a battery charger going bad? I have a Charles 30 amp charger.

[bud37]

Source of the post When I bought the boat, the PO did not supply me with any manuals.

Good to know about both batteries running the bilge pump. Never knew that. Yes, I see the bilge breakers under the step, but for the life of me, I can't figure out how to turn them off. They seem to be locked into position.

Too bad about the manuals.....you hopefully, may be able to download the owners manual from Carver Yachts.The hot batteries don't sound good. Seems that a 30 amp charger will not be enuf as my guess here is you may be wanting to take this chance to upgrade your battery banks....yes.....

[buster53]

When I bought the boat this spring, it had 3, group 31 AGM's. I quickly realized one was dead and bought a flooded cell starting battery for the genset and hoping to make it thru to haul out time on the other 2, AGM's. Almost made it, but I'm buying flooded, deep cycle, group 31's in the morning.
I'm hoping my battery retailer can tell me how old these AGM's are. If they are still fairly new, a couple years old, I will take a hard look at my charger. If they are as I suspect and have some years on them, I'm just assuming their time was up and my charger is in good shape.

[mjk1040]

The batteries should have a sticker on one end or the other telling you when the battery was made. Or it maybe branded into the battery case and would be a Letter and a 2 digit number. The letter is the month (A=Jan, B=Feb, etc) and the number is the year. Off to Walmart! Saw a set come out that the owner thought they were 15 years old?

[buster53]

Ok, bought my new batteries today and all is good. The battery retailer, who has seen more than a few batteries in his day, could not find any evidence of a date on my old ones.